A Del Ray musician will premiere his latest musical next month in Bethesda, Maryland.
Neal Learner’s “French Cupcakes” will be performed Oct 10-12 and 17-19 at the Bethesda Writers’ Center (4508 Walsh Street). The Bethesda Little Theater is producing the play, which features a cast of 15 actors who tell the story of a legendary cafe similar to one in Learner’s college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“I like to frame things in a humorous ways that have a much deeper meaning,” Learner told ALXnow. “On the surface, this musical is light-hearted and joyous and magical, but it does play on the individual view of what it means to be a creative person today.”
Inspired by the opening of a Del Ray cafe, Learner spent the last two years writing the musical. The work includes 18 different songs, focusing on the lives of the cafe owner, his daughter, and baristas, all of whom have dreams of escaping to greater artistic heights. Those dreams, however, are deferred, and the characters must focus on creating new ambitions, Learner said.
“It’s a story about people’s dreams not coming true, and how they find joy and satisfaction in new dreams,” Learner said. “Right now we’re in rehearsals, and I must say that one of the great thrills for me is to see other people perform my music.”
Learner previously wrote the musical Trees, which was performed at BLT in 2023.
“We’re delighted to offer a venue for Neal’s work,” said BLT President Leslie Blaha in a release. “His unique stories and diverse musical styles appeal broadly to our audiences. French Cupcakes is a magical story about how people sometimes must adjust their dreams to fit their realities.”
Learner, who regularly performs in and around Del Ray, studied music at the University of Michigan School of Music. By day he is the associate director of digital communications at the Endocrine Society in D.C.
